Simply Science: Anamorphosis

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - "Science and art have always been very very close," says Minneapolis College of Art and Design Professor, Dr. Frenchy Lunning.

Known as anamorphosis, some drawings appear distorted or deformed unless one views them from a specific angle or vantage point. Artists use angles and ratios to make the objects appear three dimensional.

"The development of the vanishing point and a grid... This mathematically constructed grid that delivers depth of field," explains Frenchy.

Drawings like these recently became popular with UK artist Julian Beever and his sidewalk chalk art, but the technique is centuries old and is rooted in science and math.

Holbein's 1533 painting titled 'The Ambassadors' contains a skull that can only be correctly seen from a specific point... An early of anamorphosis.

Frenchy points out, "What you see is not what you get, what you see might be the truth, but it might not be."

To print of the anamorphic drawing you see in this story's video click the links below. Have fun!